Leeds United return to Premier League action on Sunday as they travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest. The clash already looks like a survival six-pointer and the Whites will be desperate to pick up their first league win since November.
Ahead of the game, Leeds Live caught up with Nottinghamshire Live’s Matt Davies to discuss what Jesse Marsch’s side can expect this weekend.
Forest are on a run of four Premier League games without defeat and they have managed to climb away from the drop zone in recent weeks. What’s the mood like at the City Ground right now?
The mood among fans is pretty buoyant after a tough start to the season. The size of the challenge of integrating so many new signings was perhaps underestimated, as was the sheer quality of the Premier League after so long in the Championship.
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Forest have adapted well though and Steve Cooper has done a brilliant job. They look like a team now and have been in good form, especially at home, but another round of signings needs to be accommodated.
Even more signings were made in January, what do the fans make of the club’s transfer activity?
Most are very much on board. Forest's hand was forced in the summer with the end of loan deals and contracts, while they have a lot of injuries to important players at present meaning changes needed making in January.
Of course, you can argue they've gone overboard but fans are grateful for the backing and ambition of owner Evangelos Marinakis as it stands.
This weekend’s game is huge for Leeds. How crucial would three points be for Forest and what gives you confidence they’ll get the result?
A win would be massive for Forest. They're pretty well placed now but the remaining fixtures make for interesting reading. They still have to play Leeds, Southampton, Everton and Wolves at home, but they also have to play all the top six in their other home games.
Away from home, they have to go to Liverpool, Spurs, Palace, Villa and Brentford among others, so there is an emphasis to win at home against the teams around you. Forest can take heart having already beaten West Ham, Liverpool, Palace and Leicester at the City Ground. They are also much harder to score against than they were at the start of the season.
Where can Leeds really hurt Forest, what’s Forest’s biggest weakness?
There are question marks about who are the best central defenders still and Serge Aurier has been poor in the last two games after a wonderful run before that. Ryan Yates is a big miss in midfield so Steve Cooper must work out his best combination there with new signing Danilo looking good but finding his feet.
How will Forest line up and who is the danger man?
Navas; Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi; Mangala, Danilo, Freuler; Johnson, Wood, Scarpa
Brennan Johnson has been really good since the World Cup as he looks much more confident in his own abilities. He will give Leeds' left-back a real game.
How do you see the game going?
Forest don't score enough goals but are solid at the back. Leeds seem a really hard team to predict but they do look to have a goal in them. I'll say 2-1 to Forest.
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